Lexical Summary
rebii: fourth, four-sided, one-fourth
Original Word:רְבִיעִי
Part of Speech:Adjective
Transliteration:rbiy`iy
Pronunciation:reh-vee-ee
Phonetic Spelling:(reb-ee-ee')
KJV: foursquare, fourth (part)
NASB:fourth, four-sided, one-fourth, square
Word Origin:[fromH7251 (רָבַע - square)]
1. fourth
2. (fractionally) a fourth
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
foursquare, fourth part
Or rbiiy {reb-ee-ee'}; fromraba'; fourth; also (fractionally) a fourth -- foursquare, fourth (part).
see HEBREWraba'
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom the same as
arbaDefinitionfourth
NASB Translationfour-sided (1), fourth (51), one-fourth (1), square (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
,
; —Genesis 2:14 29t.,1 Chronicles 24:8;1 Chronicles 26:11; plural2 Kings 15:12,2 Kings 10:30; absolute1 Kings 6:1 3t.,Leviticus 19:29,1 Kings 6:37; 6t. +1 Kings 6:33 (see below); constructNumbers 15:5,Exodus 29:40 4t.,Numbers 15:4 2t.; —fourth, usually :
Genesis 2:14;Genesis 15:16 (JE), also (especially of days, months, sons, etc.)Genesis 1:19;Exodus 28:20;Exodus 39:13;Numbers 7:30;Numbers 29:23;Joshua 19:17 (all P),Judges 19:5;Jeremiah 39:2;Jeremiah 52:6;1 Chronicles 27:7b; 2Chron 20:26;Ezra 8:33; noun omitted2 Samuel 3:4 =1 Chronicles 3:2;1 Chronicles 2:14;1 Chronicles 3:15;1 Chronicles 8:2;1 Chronicles 12:10;1 Chronicles 23:19;1 Chronicles 24:8,23;1 Chronicles 25:11;1 Chronicles 26:2,4,11;1 Chronicles 27:7a;Ezra 10:14;Daniel 11:2; that isEzekiel 1:1;Zechariah 8:19; plural insons of fourth (ones), i.e. to the fourth Generation,2 Kings 10:30;2 Kings 15:12 (compare [], and [Old AramaicN¢rab] Cook107).
,1 Kings 6:1,37;2 Kings 18:9;Jeremiah 25:1;Jeremiah 28:1;Jeremiah 36:1;Jeremiah 45:1;Jeremiah 46:2;Jeremiah 51:59;Zechariah 6:8;Leviticus 19:24 (H);1 Kings 6:33, read Th Sta Kmp Kit Benz Bur.
Ezekiel 48:20four square (read possibly ).
as noun =fourth part, construct,Leviticus 23:13 (H),Exodus 29:40;Numbers 15:4,5;Numbers 28:5,7,14;Nehemiah 9:3a; so absolute ( omitted)Nehemiah 9:3 b.
Topical Lexicon
Semantic and Literary ProfileThe word רְבִיעִי occurs about fifty-five times across the Hebrew Scriptures as the ordinary Hebrew adjective “fourth.” It marks sequence, division, or proportion within narratives, genealogies, cultic schedules, and prophetic time-stamps. Its consistent usage quietly underlines Scripture’s orderly chronology and the covenantal pattern by which God structures worship, governance, and prophetic revelation.
Chronological Markers
1. The fourth month (Tammuz) anchors key historical moments. “In the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month on the ninth day of the month, the city was breached” (Jeremiah 39:2; cf. 52:6;2 Kings 25:3). The same month opens Ezekiel’s inaugural vision: “In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month… the heavens were opened” (Ezekiel 1:1). Zechariah later promises that the “fast of the fourth month” will become a feast of joy (Zechariah 8:19).
2. The fourth year of a king often signals a decisive word from the Lord:
• Solomon’s fourth year begins Temple construction (1 Kings 6:1).
• Jehoiakim’s fourth year is the setting for Jeremiah’s first written scroll (Jeremiah 25:1; 36:1).
• Zedekiah’s fourth year receives a warning against false security (Jeremiah 28:1; 51:59).
• Darius’ fourth year becomes a time for covenant renewal (Zechariah 7:1).
Priestly and Levitical Order
David employed “fourth” repeatedly in arranging Temple ministry:
• “The fourth for Seorim” among priestly courses (1 Chronicles 24:8).
• In the twenty-four orders of musicians, “the fourth fell to Izri” (1 Chronicles 25:9-14).
• Among gatekeepers: “Obed-edom’s sons… the fourth Jephunneh” (1 Chronicles 26:2, 4).
• Levite administrators: “The fourth lot fell to Rephael” (1 Chronicles 26:8-11).
These listings display God-given structure in worship, highlighting that adoration is not random but regulated for the glory of God and the good of His people (compare1 Corinthians 14:40).
Civil and Military Administration
Under David’s standing army the “fourth, for the fourth month, was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him; in his division were twenty-four thousand” (1 Chronicles 27:7). The consistent use of רְבִיעִי here links liturgical precision with civic discipline, demonstrating the holistic order of a theocratic kingdom.
Prophetic and Apocalyptic Contexts
The prophets employ the term to root visions in verifiable history:
• Ezekiel dates multiple oracles by the fourth month or fourth year.
• Jeremiah’s scroll, prepared in Jehoiakim’s fourth year, warns of Babylonian judgment, later fulfilled on the ninth day of the fourth month.
• Daniel’s vision of four earthly kingdoms culminates in a fourth, dreadful beast (Daniel 7:7) — a reminder that God remains sovereign over the whole course of history.
Ritual Fasts and Redemptive Hope
Zechariah 8:19 gathers the “fast of the fourth month” with others to announce future joy. Historically these fasts mourned Jerusalem’s disasters (Jeremiah 39:2); prophetically they anticipate restoration. The transformation from lament to celebration mirrors the gospel pattern of death and resurrection.
Theological Observations
1. Orderly Governance: Whether in worship (priests), warfare (army divisions), or prophecy (dated messages), “fourth” underscores divinely instituted order.
2. Judgment and Mercy: The breached walls of the fourth month showcase judgment, yet the promised feast of the fourth month proclaims mercy.
3. Universality: The number four often signifies the whole created order (four corners, winds). רְבִיעִי therefore hints at God’s comprehensive rule from the sanctuary to world history.
New Testament Echoes
Although the Hebrew term itself does not appear in the New Testament, the thematic threads continue:
• The “fourth watch of the night” when Jesus walks on the sea (Matthew 14:25) displays sovereign authority in a moment of crisis, much like Ezekiel’s fourth-month vision.
• The heavenly throne scene with “four living creatures” (Revelation 4:6) evokes the universality bound up in the number four.
Ministry Implications
Teachers and preachers may trace רְבִיעִי to emphasize:
• The necessity of disciplined structure in corporate worship.
• Historical anchoring of prophecy as a ground for faith.
• The hope that God turns fasts into feasts, signaling the believer’s future joy.
In personal devotion, noting the fourth-month breach alongside the fourth-month vision encourages repentance paired with renewed vision of God’s glory—an abiding pattern for spiritual growth.
Forms and Transliterations
בִּרְבִעִ֥ית בָּֽרְבִיעִי֙ ברביעי ברבעית הָֽרְבִיעִ֑י הָֽרְבִיעִ֔י הָֽרְבִיעִ֔ית הָֽרְבִיעִ֖י הָֽרְבִיעִ֞י הָֽרְבִיעִי֙ הָֽרְבִיעִית֙ הָֽרְבִעִ֔ית הָרְבִיעִ֔י הָרְבִיעִ֔ת הָרְבִיעִ֖י הָרְבִיעִ֗י הָרְבִיעִ֛י הָרְבִיעִ֜ית הָרְבִיעִ֡י הָרְבִיעִֽי׃ הָרְבִיעִי֙ הָרְבִעִ֑י הָרְבִעִ֔ית הָרְבִעִ֖ית הָרְבִעִ֗י הָרְבִעִֽי׃ הרביעי הרביעי׃ הרביעית הרביעת הרבעי הרבעי׃ הרבעית וְהָֽרְבִיעִי֙ וְהָרְבִיעִ֖י וּרְבִיעִ֥ת וּרְבִעִית֙ והרביעי ורביעת ורבעית רְבִיעִ֔ים רְבִיעִ֖י רְבִיעִ֗ית רְבִיעִ֣ית רְבִיעִ֣ת רְבִיעִ֥ת רְבִיעִֽי׃ רְבִעִ֔ים רְבִעִ֣ית רְבִעִֽית׃ רביעי רביעי׃ רביעים רביעית רביעת רבעים רבעית רבעית׃ bā·rə·ḇî·‘î bārəḇî‘î bareviI bir·ḇi·‘îṯ birḇi‘îṯ birviIt hā·rə·ḇi·‘î hā·rə·ḇî·‘î hā·rə·ḇi·‘îṯ hā·rə·ḇî·‘iṯ hā·rə·ḇî·‘îṯ hārəḇi‘î hārəḇî‘î hārəḇi‘îṯ hārəḇî‘iṯ hārəḇî‘îṯ hareviI hareviIt rə·ḇî·‘î rə·ḇi·‘îm rə·ḇî·‘îm rə·ḇi·‘îṯ rə·ḇî·‘iṯ rə·ḇî·‘îṯ rəḇî‘î rəḇi‘îm rəḇî‘îm rəḇi‘îṯ rəḇî‘iṯ rəḇî‘îṯ reviI reviIm reviIt ū·rə·ḇi·‘îṯ ū·rə·ḇî·‘iṯ ūrəḇi‘îṯ ūrəḇî‘iṯ ureviIt vehareviI wə·hā·rə·ḇî·‘î wəhārəḇî‘î
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